splinter

¹splin·ter

noun \ˈsplin-tər\

Definition of SPLINTER

1

a : a thin piece split or broken off lengthwise : sliver b : a small needlelike particle

2

: a group or faction broken away from a parent body

— splinter adjective

— splin·tery \ˈsplin-tə-rē, -trē\ adjective

Examples of SPLINTER

1. I got a splinter in my finger.
2. There were splinters of glass everywhere.

Origin of SPLINTER

Middle English, from Middle Dutch; akin to Middle Low German splinte splint

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SPLINTER

Synonyms: flake, sliver, spall, splint, chip

Related Words: bit, disk (or disc), fragment, part, particle, portion, scrap, section, shard; flinders, shiver, smithereens; shred, tatter; clipping, paring, shave, shaving, snippet; leaf, sheet, slice

Near Antonyms: chunk, hunk, lump, slab

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Rhymes with SPLINTER

hinter, linter, minter, Pinter, printer, sinter, sprinter, squinter, tinter, winter